Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
  • H04M1/725—Cordless telephones
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
  • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
  • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
  • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
  • H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
  • H01Q1/243—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with built-in antennas
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
  • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
  • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
  • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
  • H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
  • H01Q1/243—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with built-in antennas
  • H01Q1/244—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with built-in antennas extendable from a housing along a given path
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
  • H01Q1/28—Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
  • H01Q1/288—Satellite antennas
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
  • H01Q21/28—Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/14—Relay systems
  • H04B7/15—Active relay systems
  • H04B7/185—Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
  • H04B7/1853—Satellite systems for providing telephony service to a mobile station, i.e. mobile satellite service
  • H04B7/18563—Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
  • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
  • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
  • H04M1/72466—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/14—Relay systems
  • H04B7/15—Active relay systems
  • H04B7/185—Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
  • H04B7/1853—Satellite systems for providing telephony service to a mobile station, i.e. mobile satellite service
  • H04B7/18569—Arrangements for system physical machines management, i.e. for construction operations control, administration, maintenance
  • H04B7/18571—Arrangements for system physical machines management, i.e. for construction operations control, administration, maintenance for satellites; for fixed or mobile stations

Definitions

• This invention relates to commonly termed mobile satellite communication units utilizing satellites orbiting around the earth as network switching nodes and, more particularly, to dual mode mobile satellite communication units, which can be used as mobile terrestrial communication unit for cellular or PHS communication systems utilizing terrestrial radio stations as well as the mobile satellite communication unit.
• FIG. 11 depicts the iridium plan communication system, which is shown in, for instance, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-181456.
• a constellation 100 consists of, for instance, 66 satellites 200 moving along relatively low level orbits around the earth (not shown). Line-of-sight communication may be made from given points on the earth's surface with an obstructed view to one or more satellites. The constellation and the satellites which are moving along relatively low level orbits, are always moving relative to the earth.
• a satellite moving along an orbit 765 km apart from the earth is moving at a speed of about 25,000 km relative to an earth's surface point.
• This satellite is in the visual field of the earth surface's point for a period of at most about 9 minutes .
• a number of switching offices (SO) 101 are provided for data communication with satellites among adjacent ones of them via r-f trunking communication links 102.
• the satellites are also doing data communication with one another via trunking communication links.
• a switching office 101 in any area on the earth can control communication (or calls) sent out to given points via the constellation 100.
• Each switching office 101 is coupled to a usual phone switching network (PSTN) 103 via a number of PSTN lines, and also can receive calls sent out from PSTN lines to mobile satellite communication line subscribers 104.
• PSTN lines 103 can send out calls transmitted from the mobile satellite communication line subscribers 104.
• the mobile satellite communication units MU can do communication at any place in an earth area covered by the mobile satellite communication network.
• Fig. 12 shows a personal handyphone system (PHS) mobile communication system pertaining to the present invention (which is shown in, for instance, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-187866).
• the system comprises a PHS control center 140 for storing position data, a plurality of relay stations 132 each wired via a digital switching office 131 and a common line signal network 130 to the PHS control center 140, and a plurality of base stations 120 wired to each of the relay stations 132.
• the relay stations 132 produces position data on the basis of position registration requests sent out from the base stations 120.
• a PHS unit 110 receiving position data notified from the pertinent base station 120 checks the data.
• the PHS unit 110 sends out a position registration signal to the base station 120 in the radio zone (or position registration area 134) in which the user is present.
• the position registration signal is relayed by the relay station 132 and arrives at the PHS control center 140 in a converted form necessary for switching.
• the present position data of the PHS unit 110 is thus stored in the PHS control center 140.
• the above operation is executed whenever the position registration area 134 is changed by movement of the PHS unit 110.
• the transmission side digital switching office 131 interrogates the PHS control center 140 via the common line signal network 130 about the position registration area 134 in which the PHS unit 110 of the dialed number is present, i.e., about position registration data necessary for switching. On the basis of this position registration data, tracing connection is made, and the base stations 120 in the pertinent position registration area 134 make a general terrestrial radio wave calling.
• the subscriber certification data number of the PHS unit 110 is transmittedd together with the phone number via the base station 120 to the relay station 132.
• the relay station 132 identifies the PHS unit 110 and confirms that the transmitter is a subscriber. Then, a line concerning the general subscriber phone is connected.
• the mobile satellite communication unit is capable of making communication at any place on the earth under the mobile satellite communication network.
• a problem is posed that high power is necessary for electromagnetic waves to reach the constellation which is utilized as network switching nodes, because the constellation is disposed along orbits spaced apart by 765 km from the earth.
• the unit In the mobile satellite communication unit, therefore, not only the transmitting circuit but also the battery power supply are inevitably large in size. Consequently, the unit requires high communication cost and much battery consumption, and also its frame has a large size. That is, a large size frame should always be carried as the mobile satellite communication unit. Unlike the case of carrying a recent small size unit, this is a great weight burden on the user.
• the mobile terrestrial communication unit for the PHS or cellular system is for communication by transmitting and receiving data to and from a base station close to it.
• the transmitting circuit and the battery power supply of the unit are small in size, and also the unit requires low communication cost and little battery consumption.
• An advantageous mobile satellite communication unit is a duel mode one, which can provide the functions of both the units, i.e., those of the mobile satellite communication unit and the mobile terrestrial communication unit.
• Such a dual mode unit is large in size and heavy in weight. Nevertheless, it should always be carried even by the user who uses the sole mobile terrestrial communication unit function (i.e., utilizes the sole cellular system of PHS services). This is a great weight burden on the user compared to the case of carrying the recent small size cellular system or PHS unit.
• a further problem is that for mobile satellite communication which covers the whole globe, it is necessary to use different dual mode units in correspondence to different mobile terrestrial communication units depending on areas where the units are sold and used. To solve this problem, units in which a terrestrial communication function cartridge (including a ratio section, communication system control programs and a data memory) can be detachably inserted, have been investigated. Such units, however, again dictate carrying a large unit frame.
• the present invention in view of the above technical problems, has an object of providing a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit, which requires as low communication cost and as little battery power as possible, neither requires always carrying a large size unit frame nor necessitates user's great weight burden.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile satellite communication unit, which can be readily carried and permits volume reduction.
• a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit which provides the mobile terrestrial communication unit function in addition to the function of a mobile satellite communication unit utilizing satellites orbiting around the earth.
• the dual mode mobile satellite communication unit features that: it comprises a base unit not including at least a key operating section, a display section and a speech transducer section having a microphone and a loudspeaker and capable of providing the mobile satellite communication unit function; and a terrestrial communication portable unit including a key operating section, a display section and a speech transducer section having a microphone and a loudspeaker and providing a pertinent mobile terrestrial communication unit function; wherein recesses and projections are provided as mechanical copulters on the two units for mechanically coupling the two units to each other, and electric connectors are provided on the two units for electrically connecting the key operating section, the display section and the speech transducer section having the microphone and the loudspeaker on the side of the terrestrial communication portable unit and a mobile satellite communication unit function section on the side of the base unit to one another when the two units are mechanically coupled to one another.
• independent battery power supplies may be provided in the terrestrial communication portable unit and in the base unit providing the mobile satellite communication unit function, and in terrestrial service areas the small size terrestrial communication portable unit alone may be carried for use.
• the portable unit When it is forecast that the user carrying the portable unit gets out of a terrestrial service area, the portable unit is mechanically coupled to the base unit, whereby the key operating section, the display section and the speech transducer section on the side of the portable unit and the mobile satellite communication unit function section on the side of the base unit are electrically connected to one another.
• the unit can be used at any locality on the earth as the mobile satellite communication unit by utilizing the key operating section and the display section of the portable unit.
• the provision of the key operating section and the speech transducer section on the side of the terrestrial communication portable unit makes it possible, in the case where a phone number memory for call transmission is provided in the portable unit for satellite communication, to make common use of functions (such as call tone transmission) provided in the portable unit and also make common use of a phone book registered in an internal memory. It is thus not necessary to register the phone book independently on the sides of the two units.
• a single electric connector is provided for making the above electric connection, and a plural mechanical couplers capable of being held spaced apart by different distances are provided for the mechanical coupling of the two units.
• a plurality of portable units having different shapes i.e., coupling widths
• desired portable units such as PHS and cellular system ones.
• portable units of different communication systems can be mounted in different countries visited in business trips or the like .
• a rail-like mechanical coupler movable in a predetermined axial direction is provided for the mechanical coupling, and an electric connector for the electric connection is disposed at the end of movement axial direction of the mechanical coupler and in a fixed plane containing the path of movement axis of the mechanical coupler.
• the above dual mode mobile satellite communication unit suitably has the following circuit construction.
• the base unit which does not include at least the key operating section, the display section and the speech transducer section having the microphone and the loudspeaker and is capable of providing the mobile satellite communication unit function, includes a signal transceiver section for transmitting and receiving converted wave of transmission and reception signals, preferably PCM data, to and from the separate terrestrial communication unit.
• the present invention features, in the above combination of mobile satellite communication base unit and terrestrial communication portable unit: a mobile satellite communication unit as a base unit not including at least a key operating section, a display sections and a speech transducer section having a microphone and a loudspeaker, capable of providing the mobile satellite communication unit function and including a first converted wave transceiver section for transmitting and receiving converted waves of transmission and reception signals to and from a signal transceiver section of the separate mobile terrestrial communication unit; and a terrestrial communication unit as a portable unit including a key operating section, a display section and a speech transducer section having a microphone and a loudspeaker, providing a pertinent terrestrial communication unit function and including the second converted wave transceiver section as noted above, for transmitting and receiving converted waves of transmission and reception signals to and from the signal transceiver section of the mobile satellite communication base unit; wherein the portable unit is used for terrestrial communication, and the mobile satellite communication unit can be used as base unit for transmission and reception via the first and second converted wave transceiver sections
• the first and second converted wave transceiver sections suitably use infrared transducers or r-f modulator/demodulators, which can transmit infrared rays or weak electromagnetic waves .
• infrared transducers or r-f modulator/demodulators which can transmit infrared rays or weak electromagnetic waves .
• a call received by the mobile satellite communication unit for an iridium plan communication system line is transmitted via the first and second converted wave transceiver sections to the speech transducer section on the side of the mobile terrestrial communication portable unit, for doing predetermined transmission and reception by driving loudspeaker or vibrator.
• a stand-by state of the mobile satellite communication base unit is turned off.
• the stand-by state is also turned off in an interlocked relation to the dismounting of the portable unit.
• the terrestrial communication portable unit When it is forecast that the user gets out of a terrestrial service area, the terrestrial communication portable unit is electrically coupled to the mobile satellite communication base unit. By so doing, it is possible to send out a call from the side of the mobile satellite communication base unit to satellites by utilizing the key operating section and the display section on the side of the terrestrial communication portable unit. In this way, it is -impossible to use the unit at any locality on the earth.
• the provision of the key operating section and the speech transducer section on the side of the terrestrial communication portable unit makes it possible, in the case where a phone number memory for call transmission is provided in the portable unit for satellite communication, to commonly use such functions as call tone transmission provided in the portable unit and also commonly use a phone book registered in an internal memory. It is thus not necessary to register the phone book independently on the sides of the two units.
• the mobile satellite communication unit does not have any key operating section, any display section and any speech transducer section having a microphone and a loudspeaker, its weight can be correspondingly reduced. Besides, since this unit can be made integral with the portable unit by electric coupling, the user can carry the portable unit, which is super-light in weight, in a suit pocket while putting the heavy mobile satellite communication unit in a briefcase so long as the user is in an area permitting transmission between the first and second converted wave transceiver sections .
• the present invention it is possible to selectively use the terrestrial communication portable unit for short distance communication and the mobile satellite communication unit for long distance communication.
• the communication cost thus can be logically reduced.
• the key operating section and the speech transducer section are provided only on the terrestrial communication portable unit side, the weight of the mobile satellite communication unit can be correspondingly reduced.
• the present invention it is possible to selectively mount a plurality of portable units different in the shape and the terrestrial communication specifications so long as they have the second converted wave transceiver. It is thus possible to select desired portable units, such as PHS and cellular system ones. It is also possible to select different portable units in different countries visited in business trips or the like. It is thus possible to obtain electric coupling.
• the mobile satellite communication unit has a further problem that it should have a large battery accommodation space. Since this unit requires high power so that transmitted waves can reach constellation, the battery used is inevitably large in size, dictating large size and large wall thickness of the frame and resulting in a frame, which is very inconvenient to hold from the human engineering standpoint .
• the present invention features, in a commonly termed mobile satellite communication unit utilizing satellites orbiting around the earth as network switching nodes, that an antenna section including a microstrip planar antenna at an end is formed such that it has a hollow cylindrical shape and that a battery insertion space is formed in the hollow cylindrical space underneath the microstrip planar antenna.
• the antenna section may be capable of elongation and contraction, tilting or rotatable with respect to the unit frame, or it may be secured thereat.
• the antenna may be mounted in any manner.
• the antenna is capable of controlling its angle and also can be pulled out for use because the mobile satellite communication unit transmits and receives weak and highly directive digital signals with respect to satellites.
• the antenna may be the sole microstrip planar antenna, or it may be a composite antenna obtained by coaxially arranging a microstrip planar antenna and a helical antenna.
• the present invention further proposes, as a preferred shape of unit which accommodates the above antenna, one constituted by a vertically elongate frame having an large thickness portion formed on one side, the hollow cylindrical antenna being inserted in the large thickness portion.
• This unit can be used as a single mode mobile satellite communication unit, which independently permits keying operation and also transmission and reception.
• the unit is used as a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit, with which keying operation and also transmission and reception can be made by utilizing a key operating section, a display section and a speech transducer section having a microphone and a loudspeaker of a separate mobile communication unit for PHS or terrestrial communication .
• the unit frame has an asymmetric transversal sectional profile with respect to its front face having a key operating section and a display section, such that a large thickness portion is formed on one side and a small thickness portion on the other side behaind the front face, a hollow cylindrical antenna being inserted in the large thickness portion, the inner cylindrical space of the antenna being used as a battery insertion space.
• the unit frame has a front mounting section for mounting the separate mobile terrestrial communication unit, a large thickness portion is formed on one side behind the mounting section, a hollow cylindrical antenna being inserted in the large thickness portion, the inner cylindrical space of the antenna being used as a battery insertion space.
• such a mobile satellite communication unit does not include at least a key operating section, a display section and a speech transducer section having a microphone and a loudspeaker and is capable of keying operation and also transmission and reception by utilizing a key operating section and a speech transducer section of a mobile terrestrial communication unit which is detachably mounted in the mounting section.
• the antenna having as hollow cylindrical shape such that the inner cylindrical space is used as a battery insertion space, an independent battery mounting space is unnecessary. It is thus possible to attain very great space saving particularly in a mobile satellite communication unit requiring high power and hence a large size battery power supply.
• the antenna is formed a composite antenna comprising a microstrip planar antenna and a helical antenna in coaxial arrangement, thus improving the directivity at low elevation angle and also the axial ratio thereat .
• the cylindrical antenna inevitably tends to be large in diameter and length.
• this is coped with by the longitudinally elongate unit frame as noted above, having a large thickness portion formed on one side, the hollow cylindrical antenna being inserted in the large thickness portion.
• the location in which to form the large thickness portion for antenna insertion is specified.
• the portable unit is held with one hand while doing key operation with the other hand.
• the unit is thus held in a space defined by the thumb and the index finger.
• This space is wedge-like, flaring from the root to the tip of the thumb.
• the unit In order for the portable unit to be held in such a space having a wedge-like triangular sectional profile, suitably the unit also has a wedge-like triangular sectional profile. This is suitable from the human engineering standpoint.
• the unit has a flat front face for providing the key operating section, display section and so forth.
• the unit frame has an asymmetric transversally sectional profile with respect to the front face having the key operating section and the display section, such that a large thickness portion is formed on one side and a small thickness portion on the other side behind the front face, a hollow cylindrical antenna being inserted in the large thickness portion.
• the mobile satellite communication units can be utilized for short distance communication as well as long distance and overseas communications. When utilized for the short distance communication, however, the communication cost is increased. Suitably, therefore, a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit is used in combination with a mobile terrestrial communication unit for PHS or cellular system communication .
• the present invention is accordingly applied to a unit, which is suitable as a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit utilizing, for key operation and also transmission and reception, a key operating section and a speech transducer section of a mobile terrestrial communication unit.
• the frame of the unit has a front mounting section for mounting a separate mobile terrestrial communication unit, and a large thickness portion formed on one side behind the mounting section, a hollow cylindrical antenna being inserted in the large thickness portion, the inner cylindrical space of the antenna being used as a battery insertion space.
• Figs. 1(A) to 1(B) show a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit as a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1(A) showing the unit with an electric connector of a base unit for iridium plan satellite communication held in a buried state, Fig. 1(B) showing the unit with the electric connector in a raised state, Fig. 1(C) showing the unit with a portable unit mounted in the base unit;
• Fig. 2(A) is a partly broken-apart front view showing the unit shown in Fig. 1(C), and Fig. 2(B) is a sectional view taken along line a-a in Fig 1(C);, omitting the internal construction.
• Fig. 3 is a front view showing a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit as a different embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line b-b in Fig. 3, not showing the internal construction of the unit with a portable unit mounted therein;
• Figs. 5(A) to 5(C) show a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit as a further embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5(A) being a perspective view showing a base unit for iridium plan satellite communication, Fig. 5(B) is a partly broken-apart perspective view showing the unit shown in Fig. 5(A), Fig. 5(C) being a perspective view showing the unit with a portable unit mounted in the base unit;
• Fig. 6(A) is a partly broken-apart front view showing the unit shown in Fig. 5(C), and Fig. 6(B) is a sectional view taken along line A-A shown in Fig. 6(A);, omitting the internal construction.
• Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a composite antenna shown in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit construction of portable unit B and base unit A for iridium plan satellite communication in each of the above embodiments , the two units being coupled together such that signals are mutually transmitted and received via infrared transducers ;
• Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit construction of the portable unit B and the base unit for iridium plan satellite communication in each of the above embodiments , the two units being coupled together such that signals are mutually transmitted and received via r-f modulator/demodulators for generating and demodulating low directivity carrier waves;
• Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit construction of the portable unit B and the base unit A for iridium plan satellite communication in each of the above embodiments, the two units being coupled together such that signals are mutually transmitted and received via electro-optical transducers and an optical fiber therebetween;
• Fig. 11 is a view illustrating an iridium plan mobile satellite communication system utilizing a constellation arranged along orbits around the earth as network witching nodes ;
• Fig. 12 is a view illustrating a well-known mobile communication system for PHS.
• Figs. 13(A) to 13(C) show a single mode mobile satellite communication unit for iridium plan communication, which is different from the above embodiments, Fig. 13(A) being a front view, Fig. 13(B) being a top plan view. Fig. 13(C) being a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 13(A), omitting the internal construction.
• Figs. 1(A) to 1(C), 2(A) and 2(B) show a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit embodying the invention.
• Designated by A is a base unit, which excludes at least a key operation section, a display section and a speech transducing section having a microphone and a loudspeaker and is necessary for providing the iridium plan communication system unit function.
• Designated at B is a portable unit, which is used for PHS or cellular system communication and provides the well-known mobile terrestrial communication unit function.
• the base unit A has a vertically elongate, substantially rectangular shape and has a substantially rectangular recess 1 open on the front and extending substantially over the entire vertical dimension of it.
• the portable unit B for the PHS or cellular system communication etc. can be accommodated in the recess 1.
• an electric connector 3 is disposed such that it can be raised from and lowered to the bottom of the recess 1 by vertical sliding of a slide button 2, which is provided in a side wall of the unit A and also serves as a power switch thereof.
• a pair of inner mechanical coupler projections 4 are in right and left side of inner walls of the unit defining the recess 1. The mechanical coupler projections 4 are biased by spring forces toward each other.
• each of the mechanical coupler projections 4 has a substantially right triangular sectional profile with a wedge-like end.
• the end of the mechanical coupler projection 4 can be engaged in and secured to an associated mechanical coupling recess 11 on the side of the portable unit B by a biasing spring 15A disposed inside the mechanical coupler projection 4.
• the dimension of the mechanical coupler projection 4 up to the wedge-like end thereof is set as desired; for instance, it is set such as to permit selective mounting of a plurality of PHS and cellular system communication units having different shapes (i.e., widths) as the portable unit B. More specifically, for the portable unit B for PHS and cellular system communication it is a preamble that an electric connector accommodation recess 12 formed at the bottom and the mechanical coupler recesses 11, which receive the wedge-like ends of the mechanical coupler projections 4 provided on the right and left side walls of the base unit A, are at a fitted position of connection. With this arrangement, it is possible to mount the portable unit Bl and B2 having different shapes (i.e., widths) as shown in Fig. 2(B).
• the top wall of the recess 1 is partly removed so that an antenna 13 of the portable unit B can penetrate the top wall of the recess 1.
• the base unit A has such a transversally sectional profile that its rear surface has a convex portion on one side, a cylindrical space 5 capable of accommodating a large size battery is formed in the convex portion, and a cylindrical frame 5A of the cylindrical space 5 serves as an antenna .
• the portable unit B of this embodiment used for PHS and cellular communication, has the electric connector accommodation recess 12 formed at the bottom and the mechanical coupler recesses 11 formed in the right and left side surfaces.
• the portable unit B also has the antenna 13 which extends upright from a left side portion of the top, a receive-call lamp 19 and a receiver loudspeaker 33 provided on a upper portion of its front face, and a display section 14 provided on a lower front face portion for displaying such various information as data transmitted by key operation or the like.
• the front face lower portion further has a power switch, a call switch for transmitting a call signal, service keys 15 constituted by on-hook switches and so forth, ten keys 16 provided under the service keys, and function keys 17 for volume control, function selection and various other functions.
• a select key 17F having an LED is provided for selecting an iridium plan communication line. By depressing the select key 17F, the LED is turned on to notify that the iridium plan communication line has been connected.
• Designated at 34 is a microphone .
• the select key 17F is electrically controlled such that the LED is turned on when and only when the electric connector 3 on the side of the base unit A is electrically connected.
• the slide button 2 After the engagement, by raising the slide button 2 the electric connector 3 is raised from its position in the bottom, and enters in and is secured to electric connector accommodation recess 12 formed at the bottom. The two units are thus reliably secured to each other by the three-point support.
• the slide button 2 also serves as a power switch, and power supply to the base unit A is on-off operated in an interlocked relation to the securing of the portable unit B in position. It is thus possible to avoid wasteful battery power consumption.
• Figs. 3 and 4 show a different embodiment of the dual mode mobile satellite communication unit.
• a base unit Al has a vertically elongate, substantially rectangular shape and has a substantially rectangular recess 1 open on the front and extending substantially over the entire vertical dimension of it.
• the base unit Al does not have any top wall of the recess 1A, thus permitting a portable unit B to be slidably inserted from above into it.
• the base unit Al has a vertical rail-like ridge 4A extending along the front surface of the rear wall defining the recess 1A and having an inverted trapezoidal transversal sectional profile.
• An electric connector 3 is raised on the bottom.
• the portable unit B for PHS or cellular communication has a vertical rail-like recess 11A for slidably receiving the rail-like ridge 4A.
• An electric connector accommodation recess 12 is recessed at the bottom.
• the electric connector 3 is received in and secured to the electric connector accomodation recess 12.
• the electric connector accommodation recess 12 recessed at the bottom and the rail-like recess 11A which is engaged by the rail-like ridge 4A are at a fitted portion of connection each other.
• Figs . 5(A) to 5(C) and 6 show a further embodiment of the dual mode mobile satellite communication unit according to the invention. The difference of this embodiment from the previous embodiments will mainly be described.
• the base unit A has an infrared transducer 12a provided on the bottom of the recess 1
• the portable unit B has an infrared transducer 3a provided at the bottom.
• the infrared transducers 12a and 3a can be brought into a face-to-face relation to each other for effecting electric connection.
• the base unit A has a pair of mechanical coupler projections 4 provided on the right and left inner wall surfaces of the recess 1 and biased by spring forces toward each other.
• the base unit A has a power switch 2 provided on one side wall. By turning on the power switch 2, a satellite communication stand-by state is brought about. It is possible to provide, in addition to the power switch 2, second switches 11F each in each mechanical coupler recess 4 to permit automatic switching between satellite communication stand-by state and "off" states in an interlocked relation to the mounting of the portable unit B.
• An LED 21 provided on the top of the base unit A permits judgment as to whether the satellite communication state is "stand-by” or “off", and also whether a satellite communication call is being transmitted or received.
• the LED 21 indicates the satellite communication "off” state by emitting red light, indicates the satellite communication stand-by state by emitting green light, indicates a state of call transmission or reception by emitting flickering green light, and indicates the state that the battery has been used up by emitting flickering red light.
• the portable unit B for PHS or cellular system communication in this embodiment has the infrared transducer 12a provided on the bottom and the mechanical coupler recesses 11 provided on the right and left inner side wall surfaces, and also has the permissive switches 11F, which are disposed in the mechanical coupler recesses 11 and permits the use of the iridium plan communication line.
• the permissive switches 11F are depressed via the mechanical coupler recesses 11 and the power switch 2 is turned on, the display section 14 notifies that the iridium plan communication line has been connected.
• the display section 14 notifies that the iridium plan communication line has been connected, and at the same time the infrared transducers 3a and 12a of the two units are brought into a face-to-face relation to each other to effect electric connection.
• the base unit A has such a transverse sectional profile that its rear surface has a convex portion formed on one side, i.e., on the right side (that is on the left side in the front view of the base unit A), of the vertical center.
• a cylindrical space 5A capable of accommodating a large size battery 45 is formed in the convex portion, and a cylindrical frame 5 of the cylindrical space 5A serves the role of a composite antenna .
• the composite antenna 5, as shown in Fig. 7, comprises a microstrip planar antenna and a helical antenna, these antennas being coaxial to each other.
• designated at 51 is a microstrip planar antenna (hireinafter abbreviated as MSA) of a single-point rear side power supply system, at 52 a helical antenna, and at 53 a disc conductor serving to ground the MSA 51 and also supplying power to the helical antenna 52.
• MSA microstrip planar antenna
• Designated at 51a is a power supply pin of the MSA, 51b a batch-like radiating element of the MSA, 51c a dielectric base of the MSA, 52a a dielectric post supporting the helical antenna, 52b linear radiating element of the helical antenna, 52c an insulator for preventing a mutual contact of radiating element at the bottom intersection of the helical antenna.
• Designated at 52d is the intersection of radiating element at the bottom of the helical antenna 52.
• the power supply pin 51a is disposed at a position deviated from the diagonal center of the batch-like radiating element 51b.
• a power supply line 5Id which is connected to the power supply pin 51a from the back side of the MSA 51, is led through the dielectric post 52a and on the outer side of a battery 45.
• the linear radiating element 52b are formed along the periphery of the dielectric post 52a, and their upper ends are connected DC-wise or capacitively to the conductor 53 for power supply.
• the desired frequency for circular polarization operation can be obtained by controlling the diameter and length of the cylindrical member, the dielectric constant and thickness of the dielectric base 51c and so forth.
• the frequency varies by several to several ten MHz depending on the width and size of the helical antennas 52, and it is necessary to preliminarily take the variations into considerations.
• substantially uniform directivity can be obtained substantially in all the directions to the apex from low elevation angles .
• a plurality of single-phase dry cells 45 can be provided in series as battery power supply in the inside of the composite antenna by removing the MSA 51 (inclusive of the disc conductor 53), then the removed MSA 51 (inclusive of the disc conductor 53) can be mounted on the open antenna top, and a cap 55 can be fitted.
• the MSA 51 is mounted, the power supply line 5Id led along the inner wall surface of the composite antenna 5 is connected to the power supply pin 51a.
• Figs. 13(A) to 13(C) show a further embodiment of the invention, is a single mode mobile satellite communication unit constituted by the sole base unit A for iridium plan communication system without being combined with the portable unit B for terrestrial communication system.
• the base unit A has a cylindrical space 5A capable of accommodating a large size battery 45, and a cylindrical frame 5 of the cylindrical space 5A serves as an antenna.
• This base unit A has a wedge-like triangular transversal sectional profile so that it can be readily gripped. This is suitable from the standpoint of the human engineering.
• the base unit A has a vertically elongate, substantially rectangular shape, and its front face has a speech transducer section and various other circuits .
• the front face also has a receiver loudspeaker 33A and a display section 14A provided therebelow for displaying various information, such as data transmitted by key operation or the like.
• the front face further has function keys 17A for volume control, function selection and various other functions and ten keys 16A provided in a lower portion.
• a power switch, a call switch and service keys 15 provided in a further lower portion and constituted by on-hook switches are provided on a further lower portion.
• the antenna 5 and the transverse sectional profile of the frame of this base unit are the same as those in the previous embodiments .
• Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit construction of the base unit A for the iridium plan communication system and the portable unit B used in the previous embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 7 , particularly the embodiment shown in Figs. 5(A) to 5(C), 6(A) and 6(B).
• a microphone 34 for converting analog speech signal to PCM data and vice versa
• a key section/controller 35 for converting analog speech signal to PCM data and vice versa
• a cordiac 37 for converting analog speech signal to PCM data and vice versa
• an MMI (man-machine interface) 38 performing such user's interface processes as key control and display section control .
• An iridium plan communication unit function circuit which is necessary for transmitting and receiving PCM data from the cordiac 37 via an iridium plan communication system line, is provided on the side of the base unit A.
• a terrestrial communication unit function circuit which is necessary for transmitting and receiving PCM data from the cordiac 37 to and from base stations, is provided on the side of the portable unit B.
• a bocoder 39, a link layer 40, a channel cordiac 41, a radio section 42 and a modulator/demodulator 43 are provided on each of the two units.
• the bocoder 39 compresses and expands the PCM data.
• the linkk layer 40 is a radio controller for radio communication, and is divided into layers in dependence on the role of control .
• the channel cordiac 41 converts data from the link layer 40 or the bocoder 39 to a flame format of an iridium plan or terrestrial communication line by adding a preamble, unique words, error correction, a detection code, etc.
• the radio section 42 has a function of setting a radio channel of the iridium plan or terrestrial communication line and performs frequency conversion to a predetermined radio frequency.
• the modulator/demodulator 43 demodulates analog signal from the radio section 42 to digital data and extracts desired wave data via a band-limiting filter and an AGC, and also modulates digital data from the channel cordiac 41 and limits the modulated data to a minimum necessary band via a band-limiting filter.
• batteries 44 and 45 dry cells, lithium ion cells, nickel-hydrogen cells and so forth are used and accommodated in the respective units .
• a call signal is transmitted from the side of the portable unit B by utilizing the call switch or the ten keys 16 provided therebelow.
• the call signal is coupled via the MMI 38 to the infrared transducer 12 in the portable unit B.
• the infrared transducer 12 converts the input call signal to infrared rays which are transmitted to the infrared transducer 3 on the side of the base unit A.
• the infrared transducer 3 demodulates the received infrared rays to the original signal. This signal is sent out via the radio section 42.
• the base unit After the call transmission, the base unit receives the call-receive response of the opposite side, and then the off-hook of the opposite side unit is visually confirmed on the side of the portable unit B in the converse signal flow to that described above. Then, a predetermined service is started.
• Speech signal from the microphone on the side of the portable unit B is converted in the cordiac 37 to PCM data, which is coupled via the infrared transducers 12 and 3 to the bocoder 39 in the base unit A.
• the PCM data thus can be sent out via the channel cordiac 41 and the radio unit 42 to the iridium plan communication system line.
• the receive-call and receiving operations are performed in the same manners as above via the infrared transducers 12 and 3.
• the highly directive infrared transducers 12 and 3 are used as in the above embodiment, these infrared transducers 12 and 3 should be held in direct face-to-face relation to each other for electric coupling.
• the electric coupling can be obtained with low directivity and in a narrow transmission distance range of 1 to 5 m.
• the electric coupling can be obtained by carrying the base and portable units A and B separately, for instance by putting the portable unit B in a suit pocket and putting the base unit A in a briefcase.
• Fig. 9 shows a block diagram such an embodiment.
• planar antennas 25 and 26 for transmitting and receiving weak electromagnetic waves are provided on the units A and B.
• the planar antennas 25 and 26 may be provided in any locality on the units A and B.
• r-f modulator/demodulators 22 and 23 for modulating the above PCM data or the like to the carrier waves and also demodulating the received carrier waves to PCM data or the like are provided on the units A and B at predetermined positions thereof.
• Weak electromangetic waves (hereinafter referred to as carrier waves) obtained as a result of modulation in the r-f modulator/demodulators 22 and 23, can be transmitted and received between the planar antennas 25 and 26 with low directivity and in a narrow range of 1 to 5 m.
• the functions noted above can be attained by modulating the PCM data or the like to carrier waves in the units A and B and transmitting the carrier waves via the planar antennas 25 and 26 and also demodulating the received carrier waves in the r-f modulator/demodulators of the other units B and A.
• the carrier waves can be received via the planar antennas 25 and
• the user even having the base unit A put in a briefcase, can confirm that the key LED 17F on the side of the portable unit B is "on", and enter into iridium plan communication .
• the user When the portable unit B alone is carried, the user may get out of the region in which the carrier waves of the units A and B can be received. This is detected by the electric coupling controllers 27 and 28 of the units A and B. As a result, the key LED 17F of the portable unit Part B and the LED 21 of the base unit A are turned off or or provide red light, notifying that the iridium plan communication system line is no longer connected. Also, the electric coupling controller 27 on the side of the base unit A turns off the power switch 29, thus bringing about an "off" or non-stand-by state.
• the user visually confirms that iridium plan communication cannot be made and that it is possible to utilize the sole terrestrial communication line.
• the electric coupling controllers 27 and 28 of the units A and B detect this. As a result, the power switch 29 of the base unit A is turned on again, and the LEDs 17F and 21 of the units B and A are turned on to notify that the iridium plan communication system line prevails.
• Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment, in which electro/optical transducers 46 and 47 are provided for transmitting and receiving signal via an optical fiber.
• the present invention it is possible to selectively use two different unit functions, i.e., the mobile satellite communication unit function and the terrestrial communication unit function.
• the sole terrestrial communication unit function unlike the prior art dual mode unit, no large and heavy unit frame need be carried, and the user is free from great weight burden.
• a dual mode mobile satellite communication unit which utilizes, for keying operation and also transmission and reception, a key operating section and a speech transducer section of a mobile terrestrial communication unit. Since it is possible to selectively use the mobile terrestrial communication unit for short distance communication and the mobile satellite communication unit for long distance communication, logical communication cost reduction can be obtained. Besides, since the key operating section and the speech transducer section are provided on the side of the mobile terrestrial communication unit alone, the weight burden of the mobile satellite communication unit can be correspondingly alleviated.
• a plurality of different terrestrial communication units for PHS or cellular system communication can be selectively used depending on areas where such units are sold and used. That is, it is readily possible to replace the terrestrial communication unit with those prescribed in various countries or areas .
• the provision of the hollow cylindrical antenna, the inner cylindrical space of which is used as a battery insertion space Permits dispensing with any independent battery mounting space. This permits very great space saving particularly in the mobile satellite communication unit, which requires high power and large size battery power supply.
• the antenna By constructing the antenna as a composite antenna comprising a microstrip planar antenna and a helical antenna in coaxial arrangement, it is possible to maintain line quality and also maintain communication sensitivity in all directions around the apex irrespective of variations of the position relation between satellite and antenna.

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• 1998
  • 1998-02-23 AR ARP980100798A patent/AR011161A1/es unknown
  • 1998-02-25 AU AU61158/98A patent/AU733639B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-02-25 BR BR9805913A patent/BR9805913A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
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